The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-27


before it is compressed and then it Will
not readily absorb the water, but after 1t
has been compressed it takes the water very
quickly s5u ii is sometimes wet after 1t
has been compressed. Cotton that Is wet
by rain is not monumental lie had never
had any experience with wet cargoes, ana
dld not know what effect they would have
on the crew.
Mr. Mcdonnell then read from the recon-
mendation made by the Board that the wet
cotton would be liable TO injure any dry
cotton that might be in the vessel.
AN OBJECTION SUSTAINED.
Mr.. f. NJ. Green then took the stand and
began to testify as to the condition of the
cotton. whether it was merchantable or
otherwise, and whether it would bring more
in Liverpool than here.
Mr. Adams objected to testimony of this
chapacter He said that the inquiry then
in progress was not to determine whether
the cotton was merchandise or otherwise,
or whether better price could be obtained
in Liverpool or Savannah, but whether it
would be healthful TO ship it or not.
The court held that testimony as to the
condition of the cotton was admissible, but
the testimony objected to was irrelevant.
Continuing, Mr. Green said that 277 bales
of the damaged cotton went into the ware
house, and although four doors were open,
the odor was nauseating. Decomposition
was going on, the bales were heated and he
saw sprouts growing ON number of bales.
CroSs-examined by Mr.. Adams, he said he
had forwarded wet cotton by the Ocean and
Baltimore Steamship Companies to Phila-
delphia and Baltimore, but the vessels would
not take it below decks. He did not hear
that they had refused to take it
below decks for sanitary reasons, but
he was sure he could have shipped
dry cotton below decks, 50 he did not think
the refusal was because of a lack of storage
room. He was not prepared to say that he
could not have shipped the cotton in other
vessels of those lines under decks, but he
made a general application for transporta-
ton and the answer was that it would be
taken on deck. He thought the refusal
might have been because the wet cotton
might have damaged the dry cotton, causing
it to dampen and coke on the outside. Mr..
MacDonell announced that the case of the
sailors would rest.
THE CAPTAINS TESTIMONY.
Mr.. Adams then called Capt. Reavely,
captain of the Resolute. He said that when
the crew heard that the wet cotton was to
be reloaded, they came to him and protested.
He tried to show them their health would
not be endangered and told them to think
the matter over, and he would talk
with them again Three days later he called
them aft, and asked if they had changed
their minds, but he found that they were
more determined than ever, not to sail with
to the Board of Trade through
the consul. In reply to questions, he said
that the cotton was supposed to be in good
condition when it was taken aboard the
ship The crew sleep in the forecastle on
the deck, and there is no communication
between the crews berths and the cotton
except through the chain locker, and he
hat fr iohf no
had been made to him to cement the chain
locker, and he thought it was good one.
He frequently made it water tight, and he
thought he could make it air tight. He
believed he could make the crews and
officers quarters alright, but he could not
do so with the engine room. When asked
why he wished to take the cargo forward
he said he thought it was his duty to do So
His owners, the underwriters on the cargo
and on the ship, and all concerned wanted
it to 60 forward He thought there was no
danger to the crew. He was perfectly will
ing to go over with the cargo under
matches. Cross-examined by Col. Garrard,
he said the captains quarters were aft, half
below and half above deck-he should call
them below There is a room above to
which he could go, but the mate was COM
PEELED to remain below. He admitted that
after the vessel had discharged there was
foul air in the tunnel and the lamps would
not burn, but that is frequently the case
where the vessel has cargo of coal.
CAREFUL OF HIS CREW.
Mr.. Clark: Captain, if you thought that
it would endanger the lives of your crew
would you consent to take the cargo over"
mo, sir would not 60"
Mr. Duckworth: mot if your sowners
wished you to-"
mo, sirg'
Supposed you had loaded here and were
under charter TO go to a port where there
was yellow fever, what would you doF"
THAT is rather bad position to be in,
but if l thought l would sacrifice the
lives of my crew | would not go, and my
owners would commend me for refusing
"An owner may break the charter and
stand the losses, but has a captain right to
do sop'
Eyes, sir, where the lives Of his crew are
at stake"
Suppose the crew would refuse to go,
what would you doY'
81 would adopt the same course they have
adopted"
"Have you ever known of such CASE"
'Yes, when cholera was raging at Naples
a vessel at Constantinople was ordered
there. The Captain determined to go. A
part of his crew said they would go with
him, and a part refused. Those who re-
fused were imprisoned"
'Do you consider this action on the part
of the crew frivolousr
mo, not frivolous l think they are mis-
taken, but believe they are acting in good
faith.n
upon what do you base your opinion~
upon the medical certificate that was
given me by three physicians.
UNAUTHORIZED RUMoRs.
Capt Reavely then said that he had smelt
the cotton, and did not consider the smell